A blind veteran from East Sussex is currently preparing to embark on a three-day Iceland trek with Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men, and The Not Forgotten Association.
Mark Threadgold, 49 and from Saltdean, was in the gym in the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre in Brighton when he first came across the challenge, which will begin on 31 August and has been arranged by The Not Forgotten Association.
Read moreA veteran from the Isle of Man is training to compete in the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
John de Weert, 53 and originally from the Walthamstow, decided to sign up to the 13.1-mile challenge after reconnecting with old Army friends. He says: “It was largely down to Facebook really. Some friends I used to serve with got in touch and told me they’d be doing it. They wanted to know whether I’d be interested and so, after reading about the support the charity provides to veterans suffering vision-impairment, I got myself signed up.
Read moreAn army veteran from Conwy has competed in the Race the Train Quarry Challenge for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Kevin Williams, 44 and from Glan Conwy, narrowly missed out on glory after finishing the 10 kilometre course in 56 minutes and 27 seconds, with the train coming in at 55 minutes. Kevin says: “It was a great day all round and it was fantastic to see so many people out in support.
Read moreBlind Veterans UK is welcoming a new Certificate of Vision Impairment (CVI) form and accompanying Explanatory Notes for ophthalmologists which have been launched on the Department of Health website.
The military charity is part of a working group with other charities, led by the RNIB, which has supported the development of the new CVI form. This form is issued to patients assessed by a consultant ophthalmologist as being vision-impaired and often provides the first opportunity for patients to access information about support and services.
Read moreA cyclist from Conwy is preparing to cycle 325 miles for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Goronwy ‘Gron’ Edwards, 67 and from Llandudno, will be cycling from the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre in Brighton to its Llandudno counterpart. The ride, which will begin on 29 August, will take six days.
The ride will be done on a recumbent bike, something Gron admits may not be winning him any fashion points in the near future. That being said, he remains bullish about its functional properties, something he maintains will be key over the course of the five days.
Read moreLife in Nepal can be hard at the best of times. For those who suffer from a disability, it can be an almost impossible experience.
This is equally true for the children of many of our Gurkha pensioners. As fathers, our veterans are deeply concerned with the wellbeing of their family, especially as they grow older and are faced with the prospect of no longer being around to help them.
To ensure that some of the more vulnerable children of Gurkha veterans are able to live with dignity, we provide Disability Support Grants after the loss of their parents. This ongoing assistance helps them to survive in a country with limited healthcare, welfare support and infrastructure.
Read moreA blind veteran from Conwy is currently training to complete a three day Iceland trek with Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, and The Not Forgotten Association.
Amazingly, Steve Thomas, 45 and from Llanrwst, was entered into the challenge, which has been arranged by The Not Forgotten Association, unknowingly. Steve explains “The Rehabilitation and Training Manager from the charity’s Llandudno centre put my name in the hat without me even knowing!
Read moreA local military charity is inviting guests to join them at the Llandudno Promenade Bandstand for an afternoon of fun and games.
Blind Veterans UK, the charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, will be hosting an event, with visitors to the Prom invited to take part in a range of fun activities. There will also be a special motorcycle display put on by The Whistle Stop Café and Widows Sons, two local groups who support the charity.
Victoria Beech, Regional Fundraiser for Blind Veterans UK, says: “Llandudno Promenade is visited by both locals and holidaymakers from across the whole country.
Read moreA military charity that supports blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women is on the hunt for a team of volunteers in the Salisbury area to help generate local fundraising ideas and reach out to more veterans in the area.
Blind Veterans UK currently supports over 4,500 vision-impaired veterans, more than any time before in the charity’s history. It has set the ambitious target to double the number of veterans receiving its life changing support by 2022.
Read moreA military charity that supports blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women is on the hunt for a team of volunteers in the Oxfordshire area to help generate local fundraising ideas and reach out to more veterans in the area.
Blind Veterans UK currently supports over 4,500 vision-impaired veterans, more than any time before in the charity’s history. It has set the ambitious target of doubling the number of veterans receiving its life changing support by 2022.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
